Machine for picking berries.



No. 634,735. 4 i Patented Oct. 10,8953.

a. F. LANE &'s. GOMEAU.

MACHINE FOB PIGIGNG BEBRIES.

(Application filed Nov. 12, 1898.)

(No Modem meiczfwiy.

-rm: mums PETERS cw, wAsumnran, n. c.

ing

test r straws @OMEAII STEPHEN QoMErtm-ofKingston in-the county inyen-t'ed certain new; and ,nsefhl Improve;

ments in Machines. -for ,Picking Berries, of

which the followingise specification, This invention'has for its object to con-v struct a nachine for picking cranberries and the like {and it consists in a machine embodyin its construction rotating berry-detacli v ing mechanism, whereby the fruit is'd'etached from the plant with-out injury to the latter,

and an intermittently-operated conveyor,

whereby the detached berries are removed from the rotating berry-detaching mechanism and conveyed to a suitable receptacle adepted to receive them.

In the form of our invention hereinafter described a portable frame mounted upon wheels is provided to support the operative parts of the machine, and said frame is mounted on wheels and provided with means wherew by it may be drawn or propelled and guided over a field of berries Upon the frame of the machine arotatable drum is mounted, which is operatively con? nected with the wheels upon which the frame is mounted, or it may be operatively connected with one of the rotating axles to which the wheels are secured in such manner that when the machine is drawn oven theground the r0- tation of the wheels operates to impart rotary 'of Fig. 1.

movement to the drum. Upon the outer stir face of the drum one or more rows ofberrydetaching hooks are provided, which rows extend longitudinally thereon, or, substantially so, and said hooks serveto detach Iheberries from the plant as the machine is drawn'over them. An intermittently-operated conveyer removes the berries from the drum and deposits them in a receptacle adapted to receive them. 1 y

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a side eleva: tion of a machine for picking cranberries embodying our invention. Fig.2 is a planview A is theirameof the machine, which is supported at the rearv upon wheels at a, fast to an axle a, which is jonrnaled in said frame,

and said frame is herein shown as supported at its forwardend by means of a wheel 1),

y '7; Y E l- 9 I 1 I r srncr'rron'rron forming part or Letters eat no; se tarian at can; l "flii rl" atheiststeam? 313981895 i ti a l ionmdelf."

Blymonth and State of Massachusetts, have which is by hand or otherwise.

' V thee x1eof which is xrgonrhaledhn fb which s formed with. a stemabi; swiveled to:

said frame. To the fork b5 v a .ihandle" b -or other suitable means may be-attachedzwhere Upon the frameZ-Aismounted-a drum G; fixed to a shaft-c; and said-: 'shaft has its. journals in the fraine Ar;

-.tion a sprocketewheehd-ds herein shown asfixed toythe, shaft c", which 'is connected with a sprocket-wheel (1 fast 5 on thev axle-a, by;

means of a sprocket-chain 01 so that as the -by the machine maybepropelled.

. 5, ,As a'means for im-partlngrotary movement to the drum ,0 whenthe maohineis in opera axle a rotatesrdtary m'ovementwili be imparted to the drum 0.

Upon the outer surface of the drum Qa're mounted berry-detaching hooks 0 which are preferably arranged in rows extending longitudinally of said drum, four such rowsbei'ng herein shown, and the hooks of each row are arranged a slight distance apart for the purposes hereinafter stated. v

As the drum 0 rotates the hooks 0 pass in between the sprigs and stems of the plant, detaching the berries therefrom, which will remain upon the upper side of the row of hooks as the latter rise.

For the purpose of removing the detached berries from the drum we provide an intermittently-operated conveyor, which removes.

the berries from the drum and deposits them i in a suitable receptacle, and said conveyor is herein shown as consisting of a rowof parallel bars a, which are secured at one end to a rock-shaft e, journaled in the frame A of the machine, and the free ends of said bars rest upon the npper'surface or periphery of the drum C. The bars 6 are preferably arranged in an inclined plane tangent to the cylindrical surface ofthe drum C and so spaced and disposed with relation to the detachinghooks 0 carried bythe drum 0, as that said hooks will pass between the bars 2 during the revolutions of the drum. The end bar of the row at each side of the machine is formed or provided with an upwardly-projecting plate As a means for intermittently operating the convoyer a lever e is herein shown as fixed IOO or provided with a number of projections 6 which during the revolution of the shaft 0 engage an offset portion e, formed in the bar a, and said projeotionsdperate throughthe medium of said bar 6 and lever e to rock the shaft e, therebymoving'the free ends of the .bars e of the conveyer upward, andvas the projections a move out bf engagement with the bar a the conveyer will be returned to its normal position by gravity. The conveyer is operated approximately at a time when the detaching-hooks c reach their highest point, and the berries carried by said hooks are forced onto the conveyor, which letter when it is operated serves to deposit the same in a receptacle j, detachably mounted upon the frame A below therock-shaft e.

What we claim is-- 1. A machine for the like, comprising a rotating drum, having berry-detaching hooks projecting therefrom,

a conveyer for removing the berries from said drum, consisting of a number of parallel bars, pivot-ally supported at one end, and having picking cranberries, and

arranged to permit the passage between them 20f the hooks carried by said drum, and means for intermittently operating said conveyer substantially, as and for the purpose, above described.

2. A machine for picking cranberries, and the like, comprising a frame mounted upon wheels, a-rctatable drum'monnted on said frame, operatively connected with the wheels, and having one or more rows of berry-detachingliooks projectingtherefrom, a conveyer consisting of a numher of parallel bars 'pivotally supported on said frame at one end, and having their opposite ends resting on said drum, and arranged to permit the passage betnieen'them' of the hooks carried by said drum, means for intermittently moving said bars on their pivots, and a receptacle mounted on said frame located below the discharge end of said conveyor, substantially as, and for the purpose, above described.

GEO. F. LANE.

STEPHEN OOMEAU. \Vitnesses: F

WILLIAM W; BREWSTER, HENRY W. BARNES. 

